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Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has one of the worst human rights records in the world.

Torture, public execution, discrimination, intolerance for free speech, possible war crimes in Yemen – and the list could go on. Dozens of activists remain behind bars in the Gulf Kingdom, simply for exercising their right to freedom of expression and assembly.

Woman driving in Saudi Arabia
Woman driving in Saudi Arabia
Women's rights

Saudi women arrested for driving - not cars, but human rights change

Women in Saudi Arabia will finally be able to drive legally in June 2018. But in a cruel twist, 11 of the women human rights defenders who led the campaign have been arrested.
Article

Saudi Arabia’s execution toll hits 100

The country is already one of the most prolific executioners in the world, and they’re showing no signs of slowing down. We need you to stand with us in calling for further executions to be stopped.
Saudi arms trade

Arms to Saudi Arabia: court ruling a 'deadly blow' to Yemeni civilians

In a potentially “deadly blow” to Yemeni civilians a court has ruled that UK Government may continue its arms trade with Saudi Arabia. Read more.
A gravestone in Parliament Square commemorating the lives lost in Yemen in Saudi-led air strikes
A gravestone in Parliament Square commemorating the lives lost in Yemen in Saudi-led air strikes
Blog

Theresa May's "Global Britain" - prosperity over peace?

The Met police is investigating allegations of war crimes by Saudi Arabia in Yemen. Meanwhile, Theresa May is visiting Saudi Arabia, and her government continues to supply weapons to the country. What kind of messages is our Prime Minister sending out?
Waleed Abu al-Khair
Waleed Abu al-Khair

Waleed Abu al-Khair, imprisoned in Saudi Arabia for defending human rights

Human rights lawyer Waleed Abu al-Khair is serving a 15-year sentence for his human rights activism.

Waleed was charged under Saudi Arabia's strict counter-terror laws for activities like representing activists like Raif Badawi in court and discussing human rights in his own home. We're campaigning for Waleed to be released immediately.
Article

Why the UK must stop arms sales to Saudi Arabia

In April 2016, our research team visited Yemen to collect evidence of human rights abuses. What we discovered was a UK-made cluster bomb, used by the coalition in a series of strikes on civilians.
Article

Exposed: British-made bombs used on civilian targets in Yemen

The bloody conflict has been raging for a year – but largely ignored by the rest of the world. Devastating air strikes, led by Saudi Arabia, have killed thousands of Yemeni civilians and destroyed homes, schools and hospitals.

Meanwhile, the UK government has been providing weapons to those committing these horrific war crimes.
Ali al-Nimr C. Private
Ali al-Nimr C. Private
Blog

'My heart is exhausted': A mother’s story of death row in Saudi Arabia

'When I first heard the verdict to execute my little boy, I felt as if a thunderbolt was hitting my head.'

Nassra al-Ahmed writes about her son, Ali al-Nimr, on death row in Saudi Arabia, and facing execution for going to protests there when he was 17.
Philip Hammond with Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir
Philip Hammond with Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir
Blog

Arming Saudi Arabia: Philip Hammond at the controls

The UK government is arming Saudi Arabia. UK officials are in Saudi Arabian control rooms overseeing the offensive on Yemen. And those operations have in recent months targeted civilian targets, including schools and hospitals.

What will it take for the UK government to question its snug relationship with Saudi Arabia?
Raif Badawi and his children
Raif Badawi and his children
Blog

One year since Raif was flogged, call for his freedom

In the year since Raif Badawi was flogged, Saudi Arabian authorities have continued their intense crackdown on free speech.

Raif is one of many people behind bars simply for exercising their human rights in the Kingdom. We continue to campaign for freedom for Raif and all imprisoned for speaking out.
Saudi Arabia's King Salman. Yoan Valat/AFP/Getty Images
Saudi Arabia's King Salman. Yoan Valat/AFP/Getty Images
Blog

Four reasons the UK needs a New Year’s resolution on Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia executed 47 people last week, yet the UK government continues to put business before human rights - refusing to criticise its trade ally.

From prison contracts to arms sales, its clear where our government's priorities are with Saudi Arabia.
Blog

Broken by its own champion – a very un-happy birthday to the Global Arms Trade Treaty

The global Arms Trade Treaty came into force last Christmas Eve. In many ways a very familiar story of a miracle birth, heralded as a new chapter for humankind.

One year on and it’s already been broken. More shockingly still, by its own self-declared greatest champion - the UK.
Blog

My husband, in prison for supporting human rights in Saudi Arabia

"He has always been my rock whenever I felt weak, he was my strength and my source of motivation and inspiration..."

Samar Badawi's husband is serving a 15-year prison sentence simply for standing up for human rights in Saudi Arabia. Samar continues to hope for his release.
Blog

Yemen conflict: Does the UK have blood on its hands?

Continuous, indiscriminate airstrikes have rained down on Yemen for six months, killing hundreds and injuring hundreds more. This is not a conflict the UK can stand back and claim its hands are clean. The Saudi Arabian coalition is using UK weaponry and technology to attack civilians.
Raif vigil
Raif vigil
Blog

The UK is trading away its credibility in its relations with Saudi Arabia and China

Shady deals and blanket silence speak volumes about the UK's attitude towards the importance of human rights when it comes to talking business with the likes of Saudi Arabia and China.
Mounds erected for public executions in a square in Saudi Arabia.
Mounds erected for public executions in a square in Saudi Arabia.
Article

An execution every two days: Saudi Arabia's surge in killings

In the first six months of 2015, Saudi Arabia has executed more people than in all of last year.

The Saudi Arabian authorities continue to claim they only use the death penalty for the ‘most serious crimes’, and only after thorough judicial proceedings. We don't agree.
Protest to free Raif Badawi in London, February 2015
Protest to free Raif Badawi in London, February 2015
Blog

Raif Badawi, Saudi Arabia's political football

The UK is the first foreign country to host one of Saudi Arabia's biggest football tournaments. It seems like our cosy business relationship with Saudi Arabian once again comes before human rights concerns...

Has the UK forgotten about Raif Badawi and all the other prisoners of conscience?
Via provence___provenza on Flickr, used under Creative Commons 2.0 license
Via provence___provenza on Flickr, used under Creative Commons 2.0 license
Blog

Salman at the beach: the Saudi king’s commandeering of a stretch of the French Riviera is hardly crime of the century

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and a party of 400 others on holiday with him have closed off a beach in the French Riviera so they can soak up the sun in peace.

But any outrage over the beach's closure is a storm in a sand bucket when you remember the regime's practices at home.